Çoruh
| Çoruh | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Mouth | Black Sea |
| Length | 438 km (272 mi)[1] |
The Çoruh River (Turkish: Çoruh, Georgian: ჭოროხი ch'orokhi, Greek: Άκαμψις, Akampsis Armenian "Ճորոխ"- (Tchorokh)) rises in the Mescit Mountains in north-eastern Turkey, flows through the cities of Bayburt, Ispir, Yusufeli, and Artvin, along the Kelkit-Çoruh Fault, before flowing into Georgia, where it reaches the Black Sea just south of Batumi and a few kilometers north of the Turkish-Georgian border.
In Arrian's Periplus Ponti Euxini, it is called the Άκαμψις Acampsis; Pliny may have confused it with the Bathys.[2] In English, it was formerly known as the Boas, the Churuk, or the Chorokh.[3][4]
Biodiversity
The Çoruh valley lies within the Caucasus ecological zone, which is considered by the World Wild Fund for Nature and by Conservation International as a biodiversity hotspot.[5][6] The Çoruh Valley is recognised by Turkish conservation organisations as an important plant area,[7] an important bird area,[8] a key biodiversity area[9] and has been nominated as a high priority area for protection. This valley is rich in plants and contains 104 nationally threatened plant species of which 67 are endemic to Turkey.[7]
Recreation
The Çoruh has been called "an eco-tourism gem" and "Turkey's last remaining wild river", and is being promoted for whitewater kayaking by the Eastern Anatolia Tourism Development Project.[10] It attracts kayakers and rafters from all over the world and was the site of the 2005 Coruh Extreme kayak competition.[11]
Dams
A total of 15 large hydroelectric dams are planned as part of the Çoruh River Development Plan[12] but a total of 27 are proposed for the Çoruh River Catchment. Under the Çoruh Development Plan, five dams have been completed (Borçka, Deriner, Güllübağ, Murtli and Tortum Dams), another five are under construction.[13]
| Dam | Phase |
|---|---|
| Tortum Dam | Operational – Tortum River (Çoruh tributary) |
| Muratli Dam | Operational |
| Borçka Dam | Operational |
| Deriner Dam | Operational |
| Olur Dam | Planned |
| Bağlık Dam | Planned – Berta River (Çoruh tributary) |
| Bayram Dam | Planned – Berta River (Çoruh tributary) |
| Artvin Dam | Operational |
| Yusufeli Dam | Under construction |
| Altiparmak Dam | Planned – Barhal River (Çoruh tributary) |
| Ayvali Dam | Planned – Oltu River (Çoruh tributary) |
| Olur Dam | Planned – Oltu River (Çoruh tributary) |
| Arkun Dam | Operational |
| Aksu Dam | Preliminary construction |
| Güllübağ Dam | Operational |
| İspir Dam | Planned |
| Laleli Dam | Under construction |
References
- ^ UN Economic Commission for Europe, Our waters: joining hands across borders : first assessment of transboundary, p. 150
- ^ William Smith, Dictionary of Greek and Roman geography, 1:216 (1854).
- ^ Encyclopædia Britannica, Eleventh Edition 2:757d
- ^ W. Rickmer Rickmers, "Lazistan and Ajaristan", The Geographical Journal 84:6 (Dec., 1934), p. 466. at JSTOR
- ^ WWF Global 200 Regions
- ^ Conservation International Biodiversity Hotspots
- ^ a b Ozhatay N, Byfield A & Atay S 2005, 122 Important Plant Areas of Turkey, for WWF Turkey, Istanbul, Turkey.
- ^ Magnin G & Yarar M 1989, Important Bird Area in Turkey, Dogal Hayati Koruma Dernegi, Turkey.
- ^ Eken G, Bozdogan M, I˙sfendiyaroglu S, Kılıç DT & Lise Y, (editörler) 2006, Key biodiversity areas in Turkey, Doga Dernegi, Ankara, Turkey.
- ^ United Nations Development Programme: Europe & CIS, "Eastern Turkey Becomes Tourist Destination" [1]
- ^ Coruh Extreme Race
- ^ ENCON 2006, ‘Yusufeli Dam and Hydroelectric Power Project Environmental Impact Assessment’, Ankara, Turkey.
- ^ "Hydroelectric Power energy Resources" (PDF) (in Turkish). State Hydraulic Works. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
